Dear mmerriam

[mmerriam]

The reason you've come to a screeching halt on Rija's Tale today is that, well, you don't really have any idea what happens next at this point. You know what happens after this, and you know what came before and why, but you haven't figured out how to make the two meet just yet.

This is what happens when you go off and try to write a novel non-sequentially -- which is something you've never done before -- without so much as vague outline to guide you when you need to create a linking scene.

So, stop angsting about the wasted writing time. Go rewrite "Cold Hand in Mine," or work on "Steadfast," or even "Fourth Dimensional Pony in the Concourse of the Lost."

Maybe read. Maybe practice Bass. Maybe pet the fuzzy cat. Do some laundry. Do some other housework. Prep dinner. Mix yourself a stiff drink.

Do something besides stare at the stupid screen and chew your lip.

If you're this stuck, you're not ready to write this little 2000 or so word scene. It obviously needs more time to marinate in your head.

So go tackle another project.

Go on.

Shoo.

Comments

[ajjones.livejournal.com]

I couldn't agree more. I think this is one of the most important writer tidbits. If you don't know what's going to happen next, never force it, wait until you love the idea. I used to try and force it, then I'd get four chapters down the wrong road and have to scrap everything. Now I remind myself that thinking about the story is as much a part of the process as sitting in front of the screen. Which is always a good excuse to go for a walk or do something leisure oriented. "I know I'm staring out the window, but I'm still WORKING, see?"

: )

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

One of the many great things about careswen is, if she catches me staring off into space, she'll ask what I'm doing. If I say writing, she just smiles and leave me alone to stare into space.

[ajjones.livejournal.com]

Yes, spousal support is paramount for we weirdos.

[mistoffo.livejournal.com]

You know what happens after this, and you know what came before and why, but you haven't figured out how to make the two meet just yet.

I write non-sequentially all the time (everything I write, in fact), and I run into this damned problem ON EVERY PROJECT I TACKLE. Each issue makes me halt progress, stop and consider the problem, and then find a number of alternate ways to fix it, none of which prove satisfying, all of which prove challenging to accomplish. Sometimes it isn't quite possible the way you envisioned it working and you have to engineer a new path. Other times, you never figure it out and just MASH together the two parts and hope nobody notices (see also 10-Speed Revolution) - but that's it's own sort of aesthetic choice, which is more easily justified in my medium than in yours.

This is the big reason I never finished my novel.

It can be a challenge to motive yourself to return to a problem scene. The greatest freedom I've ever been given is the permission to write the connecting material badly. Now I just say: "This needs to get from G to J, and it's gonna suck. Here I go!"

Interestingly, it mostly doesn't suck as much as I think it will.

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

One thing I have to remind myself of is that, it's only a first draft. If sections of it are imbued with SUCK, I can repair the damaged later in the second draft.

[mistoffo.livejournal.com]

That's my theory.

YMMV

[greykev.livejournal.com]

So, when I get writer's block I go back and begin reading what I've got so far. Usually I've built enough "momentum" by the time I hit the block that I can sense what needs to happen next and get on with things. Granted a portion of that rereading time is spent altering word choices since I have a better grasp of the characters and tone by then, so a certain amount of revision goes on too, which doesn't help for getting a first draft done. But the draft in hand is a better one, on the whole.

Re: YMMV

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

That's a really good suggestion, and one I will try if things don't shake loose by Monday or Tuesday!

[materia-indigo.livejournal.com]

Do you ever try doing bad-crack drafts, something intentionally ridiculous? I have occasionally found them helpful for breaking out of ruts and discovering what the story needs.